Famous poem from V?r?smarty Mihály: To the day-dreamer...

V?r?smarty Mihály:To the day-dreamer 

"Where has the lustre of your eyes descended? 

What do they seek in murky depths of space?

Shedding tears for an ecstasy that ended, 

or the dark rose that fled without a trace? 

Do apparitions on the future's veil

draw nigh with fearful pictures of dismay? 

Do you distrust your fate, all wan and pale, 

because you once were lost upon the way? 

Look at the world and see how very few 

among its millions do not weep and sigh - 

daydreaming ruins life with lying view

it gazes, cross-eyed, at a painted sky.' 

For what can give a man true happiness?

Fame? Treasure? Beauty? Pour these out in flood, 

and greedy men will drown in their excess

with joy of spirit never understood.

He who needs roses does not wear a bower; 

to stare into the sun means not to see;

he who seeks pleasure only, finds it sour; 

for only temperance brings no agony. 

They who are good and noble in their soul 

who do not hunger in mouth-watering dearth, 

whom pride and greedy fancy can't control, 

Only they find a home upon this Earth.

Don't look, then, to the distance dreams have shown 

for the whole Earth is never our estate;

only as much as we can call our own 

will the wise heart accept and cultivate. 

The past and future are a sea too wide 

for the small farmstead of single breast; 

fog-forts and dead lights flicker o'er its tide; 

the lonely heart grows pale at its unrest.

If faithful gifts your present hour bestrew

with feeling, thought and love your true existence, 

remain with life and what it offers you

and do not seek the fair but doubtful distance! 

Don't sell serenity for coin of dreams

that will lie useless in your cozened hand - 

regret will be the sum of all your schemes 

if you frequent that day-dream wonderland.

Bring back, bring back your eyes' most lovely light! 

Let it return now like a homing bird

that seeks its own olive branch in its flight 

that branch to all sorrowful sighs preferred.

Remain among us with your youthful eyes!

Shine forth in brightness on your friend's true face! 

Become his sun, high noon in all his skies, 

untouched by tears in radiance and grace!"

Translated by Kirkconnell, Watson; Hart, H.H.